Axe Throwing in Orem, UT: Rhyno's, RED GIANT, and the UVU Family-City Pick (2026)

Orem is the middle of Utah Valley -- the city that sits between Provo to the south and Lehi to the north, with UVU (the largest university in Utah by enrollment) at its center and one of the densest concentrations of young families in the United States. It is also home to two of the seven dedicated axe throwing venues in the state. Rhyno's Axe Throwing on Orem Boulevard and RED GIANT EXPERIENCES on State Street give Orem residents a real choice that does not require a drive into Provo's downtown corridor or up to Lehi for a Silicon Slopes tech-corridor venue.

If you live in Orem, you study at UVU, you work in the Silicon Slopes corridor and want a Provo-Center-Street-less option, or you are planning a family activity in Family City USA -- this guide walks through the two venues, the Family City demographic logic, the UVU group booking pattern, and how Orem fits between Provo and the rest of the Wasatch Front.

Orem Axe Throwing at a Glance

The Two Orem Venues

### Rhyno's Axe Throwing (South Orem)

Address: 765 S Orem Blvd, Orem, UT 84058. South Orem, near the I-15 frontage road and a short drive from UVU campus.

Rating: 4.9 stars across 665 Google reviews. The third-highest-rated dedicated axe venue in Utah Valley behind only Heber Hatchets Provo and the Provo neighborhood reviews.

Format: Lane bookings with coaching included. Rhyno's runs as a Square-bookable independent venue with a tight focus on the core axe throwing experience -- you book a lane, you get coaching, you throw. No mini golf, no rage room, no full bar. Simple and consistent, which is why the rating sticks at 4.9.

Price range: Roughly $20-$30 per person depending on session length. Generally a touch lower than Heber Hatchets Provo, which makes Rhyno's the budget-conscious pick for UVU student groups and family bookings.

Best for: UVU students (closer than Provo), south Orem residents, anyone wanting a clean focused axe throwing session without the broader "entertainment complex" overhead. Group sizes of 4-12 are the sweet spot.

### RED GIANT EXPERIENCES (Mid State Street)

Address: 1658 S State St, Orem, UT 84097. Right on Orem's main State Street commercial corridor, walking distance from the University Place mall area.

Rating: 4.9 stars across 379 Google reviews. Newer to the market than Rhyno's, but the rating has held strong.

Format: Multi-experience venue with axe throwing as one of several activities. The "experiences" branding signals the venue's positioning -- groups looking for variety rather than a single-activity night. The State Street location puts it in walking distance of the broader Orem entertainment cluster.

Phone: +1 801-753-8601 for booking and current activity offerings.

Best for: Mixed groups where not everyone wants 90 minutes of axe throwing, north Orem residents (closer than south-end Rhyno's), and family bookings that want to combine activities in a single evening. State Street access also makes it the natural pick for visitors coming up I-15 from Provo or down from Lehi.

Why Orem Has Two Venues (And Provo Has One)

This is the structural question worth understanding before you book. Provo, the larger downtown anchor of Utah Valley, has a single dedicated axe venue -- but it is the busiest in the state (Heber Hatchets, 4,237 reviews). Orem, smaller, has two venues, each operating successfully at 4.9 stars.

The market logic comes down to four factors:

1. UVU's commuter-student footprint. Utah Valley University enrolls roughly 45,000 students, more than BYU, and runs as a commuter-heavy campus with no traditional dormitory cluster. Students live across north Orem, Vineyard, Lindon, and Lehi -- and they drive everywhere. A single downtown venue in Provo cannot capture the geographic spread the way two venues on opposite ends of Orem can.

2. Family City USA branding is not just marketing. Orem markets itself as Family City USA, and Utah County has the highest birth rate in the United States. Activities that work for kids 7+ run constant weekend bookings, and two venues distribute that demand without long waitlists.

3. The 100,000-resident-with-no-alcohol-anchor effect. Orem is the second-largest city in Utah County (~100,000 residents) and shares the dry-friendly cultural norm of the broader region. Without the alcohol-bar segment that drives demand in places like Salt Lake City, activity venues like axe throwing pick up demand that would otherwise go to taprooms and cocktail bars.

4. The Silicon Slopes corridor passes through Orem. Adobe, Qualtrics, Pluralsight, and dozens of other tech companies operate offices in the Lehi-Orem-Provo corridor. Orem sits at the geographic midpoint, and its two venues give corporate planners a closer option than driving teams south to Provo for an offsite.

Orem Drive-Time Cheat Sheet

Utah Valley is more spread out than first-time visitors realize, and the two Orem venues sit on opposite ends of the city. Drive times help you pick which to book.

The pattern is straightforward: south Orem and Provo-side residents pick Rhyno's; north Orem, Lindon, Lehi, and American Fork residents pick RED GIANT. UVU campus is roughly equidistant -- pick by which side of campus you live or work on.

UVU Group Bookings

UVU's 45,000-student enrollment makes Orem the largest college market in Utah by undergraduate population. The standard axe throwing booking patterns:

Dorm and apartment-complex socials. UVU has no traditional dorms, but private student-housing complexes (Wolverine Crossing, The Boulders, others) run social events. Lane bookings for 12-24 students fit well at either venue; Rhyno's tends to handle the larger student groups while RED GIANT works for mixed-activity birthday parties.

Greek and club bookings. UVU has a smaller Greek system than most state universities its size, but service clubs, professional clubs, and intramural sports teams book activity venues across the year.

Faculty and department offsites. UVU professional schools (business, education, aviation) run regular end-of-semester team events. Both venues handle 30-50 person bookings with adjacent lane reservations.

For broader corporate planning, see our corporate team-building guide.

The Silicon Slopes Corridor Pattern

Orem sits in the middle of the Lehi-Orem-Provo tech corridor. The standard Silicon Slopes corporate offsite from an Orem-headquartered company:

• 3-4 PM -- All-hands or department wrap at the office
• 4-5 PM -- Short drive to Rhyno's or RED GIANT (5-15 min from most Orem offices)
• 5-7 PM -- 1.5-hour axe session with bracket format
• 7-9 PM -- Dinner at a Provo Center Street restaurant or back along Orem's State Street commercial corridor (Cafe Rio, R&R BBQ, etc.)

The two-venue choice is the structural advantage Orem offers over Provo for corporate planners. If Heber Hatchets Provo is fully booked for your preferred date, having Rhyno's and RED GIANT as backup options on the same night within 15 minutes is the kind of redundancy that makes Orem the easier corporate booking market.

Provo vs Orem vs Lehi: Where Should You Throw?

Within Utah Valley, three nodes anchor the axe throwing decision:

Pick Provo (Heber Hatchets) if you are: A BYU student or staff member, a Provo Center Street regular, a Silicon Slopes employee at a Provo-based office, on a Sundance Resort ski trip, or coming up I-15 from Spanish Fork or Springville.

Pick Orem (Rhyno's or RED GIANT) if you are: A UVU student, an Orem or Lindon or Vineyard resident, a Silicon Slopes employee at a mid-corridor office, a north Utah Valley family planning an activity in Family City USA, or a Lehi resident who does not want to drive south into Provo.

Lehi has no dedicated axe venue as of 2026 -- the closest options from Lehi are RED GIANT in mid-Orem (14-18 min south) or the Sandy/Draper area in south SLC (15-25 min north). RED GIANT is usually closer and operates as the de facto north-end-of-Utah-Valley pick.

For the broader Utah picture, our Utah state guide maps every venue in the state; our Provo guide covers the Heber Hatchets anchor; our Ogden guide and Salt Lake City guide cover the northern Wasatch.

What to Pair It With on State Street

Orem's State Street commercial corridor is the main entertainment and dining strip. Within 10 minutes of either venue:

• R&R BBQ -- Texas-style BBQ on State Street, post-axe comfort food.
• Cafe Rio -- the Mexican fast-casual chain that started in Utah; the Orem location is usually busy for a reason.
• Sodalicious -- Utah Valley specialty soda chain. Customizable flavored sodas; this is your dry-venue post-axe celebration.
• University Place Mall -- combine axe throwing with dinner at one of the mall restaurants or a movie at Cinemark University Mall.
• In-N-Out Burger -- the Orem location on State Street is one of the busiest In-N-Outs in Utah.
• Bombay House -- Indian food, a Utah Valley institution.
• Tucanos Brazilian Grill -- rodizio-style Brazilian BBQ at University Place, works well for celebratory group dinners.

For mid-State Street dining, RED GIANT EXPERIENCES is walkable to most of the above. For south Orem dining, Rhyno's is a short drive to the State Street strip.

Family City USA: Birthday Parties and Family Bookings

Orem's family demographic is the structural reason both venues operate successfully. The typical Orem birthday booking:

• 1-hour private lane reservation for 8-12 kids
• Hands-on coaching from venue staff
• Bring your own cake; dry-venue compatible (no alcohol)
• Approximate cost: $180-$260 for the lane plus food

Both venues run age policies typical of the Utah Valley market (generally 7+ with parent supervision, 13+ to throw without). Confirm specific age requirements at the venue directly.

For broader planning, see our birthday party guide and kids guide. RED GIANT's multi-activity format makes it especially strong for younger groups (8-11) where some kids may not want a full hour of axe throwing.

Practical Logistics

Highway access: I-15 exits 269 (University Parkway) and 272 (1600 N Orem) both put you within 5-10 minutes of either venue. From south SLC, the drive down I-15 to Orem takes 35-45 minutes depending on traffic and the specific Orem exit.

Closest airport: Salt Lake City International (SLC) is 50-60 minutes north via I-15. Provo Municipal Airport (PVU) handles select regional flights.

Public transit: UTA FrontRunner stops at Provo Central Station and Orem Central Station; both connect to UVX bus rapid transit running along University Parkway. UVX is useful for UVU students without cars but does not directly serve either axe venue -- expect a short Uber from the nearest station.

Sunday closures: Most Utah Valley businesses observe LDS Sabbath norms. Confirm Sunday hours at either venue directly. Salt Lake City is your closest reliable Sunday option if Orem is closed.

Closed-toe shoes required. See our what to wear guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rhyno's or RED GIANT -- which should I pick?

For pure axe throwing focus, Rhyno's. For multi-activity groups where some people might prefer something other than axes, RED GIANT. For geography, pick whichever is closer to where you live or work in Orem. Both maintain 4.9-star ratings.

Is Rhyno's near UVU campus?

Yes -- about 5-8 minutes from UVU. It is the closer of the two Orem venues for most UVU students and the closest dedicated axe venue to campus generally (closer than Heber Hatchets Provo, which is 12-18 minutes south).

Can I bring beer or wine?

Confirm with each venue directly. Both operate in the dry-friendly Utah Valley market and many similar Utah County venues do not allow alcohol on-premise. Plan for a dry-venue experience and adjust if the venue confirms otherwise.

What is the minimum age?

Generally 7+ with parent supervision and 13+ to throw without, matching the broader Utah Valley convention at Heber Hatchets. Confirm at the venue before booking a birthday party.

Is Orem axe throwing open Sunday?

Possibly limited -- most Utah Valley businesses close or reduce hours Sunday. Confirm directly. Salt Lake City options have variable Sunday hours.

Should I go to Orem or drive to Provo (Heber Hatchets)?

Pick by geography. If you live in Orem, north Provo, Lindon, Vineyard, or Lehi, Orem saves the drive. If you are coming up I-15 from Spanish Fork or are already on Provo Center Street, Heber Hatchets Provo is the natural pick. Heber Hatchets has more lanes and higher review volume; Orem has two venues with shorter wait times and slightly lower pricing.

Can I do axe throwing at lunch in Orem?

Possible at either venue but check current hours -- weekday afternoon sessions are typical at Utah Valley venues but lunchtime opening varies. For a UVU professor or Silicon Slopes employee on a long lunch, a 90-minute axe session with a Cafe Rio pickup afterward is a workable plan if you confirm availability ahead.

How does Orem compare to Layton or Ogden?

Layton has Axe N Smash (5.0 stars, 979 reviews) -- a single very strong venue in south Davis County. Ogden has two strong venues (Social Axe and Smash It Rage Rooms). All three Wasatch markets are within 1-1.5 hours of each other; pick by where you live.

Is RED GIANT EXPERIENCES just axe throwing?

RED GIANT operates as a multi-activity experiences venue with axe throwing as one of several offerings. Confirm current activities by calling +1 801-753-8601 -- the activity menu can rotate seasonally. Mixed groups benefit from the variety; pure axe throwers may prefer Rhyno's.

Can I book a corporate event for 30 people in Orem?

Yes, at either venue. Adjacent lane reservations and bracket-format tournaments are standard. The Silicon Slopes corridor is one of the densest corporate markets in the Mountain West, and both Orem venues handle this segment regularly. Book 2-3 weeks ahead for weekend slots.

The Family City Pick

Orem's two axe venues are the practical Utah Valley choice for anyone who lives between south Salt Lake and north Provo, anyone who studies at UVU, and any Silicon Slopes office at the corridor midpoint. The Family City USA branding is not marketing fluff -- it is the demographic logic that supports two thriving venues in a city the size of Boise (and a metro the size of Knoxville) without any alcohol-driven nightlife to compete for evening demand.

For UVU students, Rhyno's is the budget-conscious focused-axe pick. For Lindon, Vineyard, and Lehi residents, RED GIANT on State Street is closer and works for mixed groups. For a single Wasatch Front axe tour, Orem fits naturally between Salt Lake City to the north and Provo to the south -- pick a venue based on which side of the valley you are on and drive 12 minutes to either one.

Browse all Orem area venues on the directory, our beginner's guide covers what to expect for first-timers, and our Utah state guide maps the rest of the Wasatch. For the northern Wasatch and Davis County, see our Ogden guide and the Layton guide.